Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC) Practice

What assessment considerations are important for a vegan breastfeeding mother?

1. Extra iron

2. Extra calcium

3. Extra vitamin D

4. Vitamin B12 needed

The correct answer is: Vitamin B12 needed

Vegan breastfeeding mothers need to pay extra attention to their vitamin B12 intake. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, so it can be challenging for vegan mothers to obtain enough through diet alone. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to serious health issues for both the mother and baby. Therefore, it is crucial for vegan breastfeeding mothers to consider supplementing with vitamin B12 to ensure they have an adequate intake for themselves and their baby's health and development. While extra iron, calcium, and vitamin D are also important nutrients for breastfeeding mothers, they are not specific to vegan mothers only. All breastfeeding mothers, regardless of their dietary choices, may need to consider their intake of these nutrients. However, for vegan mothers, vitamin B12 is of particular concern due to the lack of natural sources in a vegan diet.